Little Lies

17. The Talk

Talk?

I can only imagine what he wants to talk about with me? How much he hates me? All the reasons I shouldn't be working for him? Maybe he'll give me a list of all the ways he hates my guts. Or maybe he's found out that I'm still messaging his little brother. It could be any of them, and they all involve topics that I'd rather not discuss. But he's the boss and if he wants to talk, who am I to say no?

I take a few more steps into the room, feeling too on the outskirts still situated at the door. He watches me with precision, like a hawk eyeing its next prey. His dark eyes darken with each step I take, and I almost think he's about to get up and pounce until he looks away, back down at his papers he had been scanning earlier.

It makes me feel a little better when he's not looking at me. He makes me feel like I'm doing everything wrong—even breathing.

I smoothe down my skirt, making sure there are no stains or sweat patches. Because I feel like I'm sweating up an ocean. I run my hand through my hair, checking there's nothing stuck in it, or any stray hairs. I seem well enough, but Leon will be the judge of that.

"Take a seat," he commands.

"No please?" I mumble under my breath, regretting it instantly as I notice him harden his stare at me.

"What was that?"

I shake my head, and look down at the floor. "Nothing."

I sheepishly shuffle over to the chair he points at and pull it out, the awkward grating of the legs on the floor making the silence even more unbearable. Once I'm seated, I feel a little more confident, at least we are on the same level, and he isn't standing above me.

"I appreciate your promptness," he says. Wow. Is he...Is he complimenting me? I was not expecting that at all. Did he fall and hit his head? It would make sense considering how big his head is. "For future reference, however, you must arrive half an hour early." There he is.

"Will I be paid for that extra half hour?" I ask. It's a completely valid question, and I shouldn't be scared to ask it, but I am.

Leon narrows his eyes at me, probably peeved that I asked. "If you require financial aid all you need to do is ask."

It takes everything in me to stop myself from gaping at his words. I think I hate this man more than the second sequel star wars movie. How dare he speak to me like that. I can put up with a lot of his shit, but I refuse to put up with that. "I'm sorry?"

"If you require to be paid for an extra half hour, then I can assume you are struggling to support yourself? Unless there is a reason other than that, please enlighten me." He leans back in his chair, stretching out. His lips are slightly quirked into a smirk, like the little prick he is.

"I assume it's standard to pay your employees for the time they work. If you expect me to arrive half an hour early without being paid to do so, then you'd be mistaken."

Leon raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms across his chest. "Fine."

Ha. I won.

"But what do I get in return?"

My brows furrow.

"What?"

"I asked what do I get in return."

"What do you get in return for having to pay me because you want me to arrive half an hour early in the morning everyday?"

He remains silent.

"A happy worker?"

"I don't appreciate this attitude you have with me. Especially after I just provided you with a job with much more accommodations than any other employer would give you. I asked you for a completely decent thing, to arrive half an hour early and yet you are throwing a tantrum and demanding that I pay you. Do you do this with all your employers?"